Parents are expected to find out next week whether their bid to open a free school on the site of Ryeish Green School in Spencers Wood has been given approval

Parents are expected to find out next week whether their bid to open a free school on the site of Ryeish Green School in Spencers Wood has been given approval.

The Department for Education is set to make an announcement on the proposal by the West of Wokingham Parent Group (WowPG) which has been backed by the CfBT Education Trust in Reading.

The campaign group launched plans for a new school under the Government’s free school programme in November last year following the controversial closure of the secondary school in Hyde End Lane.

The school, to be called Oakbank, has already received a number of applications for the first batch of pupils to start in Years Seven and Eight in September 2012.

The prospectus and other supplementary information including school policy for prospective parents went online this week and an open day is being held at Shinfield Parish Hall on Wednesday.

Madeleine Young, who is among those spearheading the campaign for the school, said: “We are very excited and very positive about the outcome but slightly frustrated that we may not know until after the open day.

“However, we are confident about the proposal and have had good feedback from the DfE and have just sent out our prospectus to parents of Year Six children in local schools and have also heard good things from them.

“People are engaging and there is a real buzz about the school.”

The school will be an inclusive non-faith school and will eventually cater for up to 600 pupils who will have lessons in line with the national curriuclum.

The prospectus states the school’s vision is to be “an outstanding and happy school where all children are empowered, through knowledge and self-confidence, to take responsibility for themselves and their community”.

Mrs Young added: “The open day will give parents the chance to find out much more information about what the school is going to be like and what they can expect when their child starts.

“People have already said everything about the school so far looks very professional.

“It is what the area needs, this is what I want for their child and where I want to send them.

“There is still lots to be done including a public consultation along the way until we can open.

“Getting a ‘yes’ next week will be a massive boost and I am sure we will be celebrating.”

WoWPG was formed by a group of parents of children at Ryeish Green School which closed in July 2010 with Wokingham Borough Council blaming a fall in pupil numbers,

People can find out more at Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green, from 1pm to 2.30pm, 3.30pm to 5pm and 8pm to 9.30pm. For more information on Oakbank School and to view the prospectus visit www.wowschool.org.uk.

All Saints Junior School became Reading’s first free school when it opened last month. The school was established by the All Saints Action Group and was also supported by the CfBT Education Trust to meet a demand for school places in West Reading.